Can opener



Feb. 12, 1924. 1,483,661

S. J. HALL CAN OPENER FiELed April 26. 1922 midi 1 mm I j v grmwnioc Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL J'. HALL, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

can OPENER.

Application filed April 26, 1922. Serial No. 556,734.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anniston, in thecounty of Calhoun, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers, and particularly to can openers which are adapted to completely remove the top of a can.

One object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is simple in construction, formed of few parts, and which can be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object is to provide a can opener Which has sets of teeth of different length so arranged that they successively cut into the top of a can, to render the operation of completely removing the can top easy.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the can opener, which is especially adapted for removing the top of a rectangular can.

Figure 2 is similar perspective view of a 35 can opener especially adapted for removing the top of a circular can.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the device showing the specific arrangement of the teeth and valleys therebetween. 7

Referring to the drawing, and especially to Figure 1, the body of the can opener is formed from a strip of suitable stiff metal of the required width and thickness, as indicated at 10, said strip being bent into a rectangular outline, with the corners rounded, as shown at 11, although these corners may be angular if desired. The ends of the strip are overlapped, as indicated at 12, and each m of these ends is provided with a perforation to receive the handle rod 13. Nuts 14 are engaged on the rod 13, on each side of the overlapped ends of the strip 10, to firmly hold said ends in proper position. The rod 12 extends across the rectangular frame formed by. the strip 10, and passes through an opening 15,,in the intermediate portion of the sideof the frame opposite the overlapped ends. The said rod 18 projects beyond the said openings 15 and is provided with a loop or hook 16, for engagement with a nail, or like means, to suspend the device on a wall.

In one edge of the strip there are formed the series of regularly spaced teeth 17, the series of regularly spaced teeth 18, and the series of regularly spaced teeth 19. The series of teeth 17 are of one length with their points in a common plane, as are the teeth of the series 18, and the teeth of the series 19. There are thus three sets or series of teeth of graduated lengths, with resultant notches or valleys 17, 18', and 19', of corresponding graduated depths. The teeth are preferably triangular in outline, and, upon placing the device upon the top of a rectangular can, the longest teeth 17 will rest on the can top. Upon downward pressure, or a blow with some implement, on the upper edge of the strip 10, the teeth 17, will force their way through the can top until the next teeth 18 engage with the top. The strip is further forced down until the teeth 18 pass through the can top, and the teeth 19 also cut their way therethrough, with the result that the top will be entirely out from the can. The opposite edges of the teeth are beveled, as at 20, to provide cutting edges, for more readily cutting their way through the tin of the can top.

In Figure 2 there is shown a modified form of the device, in which the strip 21 is bent into circular formation, with its ends overlapped at 22, and receiving therethrough the end of the handle rod 23. Nuts 24: are engaged on the rod, at opposite sides or faces of the overlapped ends, while the other end of the rod passes through the strip at a point diametrically opposite thereto. This last-named end of the rod is pro- 100 vided with a suspending hook 25. The strip 21 is also provided withthe series of teeth 26, 27, and 28, of different lengths, constructed and arranged in the same manner as those of the form of Figure 1, with their 105 edges beveled.

' The device thus consists of the minimum number of parts which can be easily and quickly cleaned, after being used. Should the foreign matter collect on the overlapped ends, the nuts may be removed, and the rod pulled out, so that the ends of the. strip may be cleansed. V

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener comprising r'strip of material having its ends overlapped and perforated and With a single perforation in its intermediate point diametrically opposite to the overlapped ends, teeth of different lengths on one edge of the strip With valleys of different depths therebetvveen, and a handle disposed through the single perforation and through the perforations of the overlapped ends and secured to said latter ends.

2. A can opener comprising a strip of material having its ends overlapped and perforated and with a singleperforation in its intermediate point-diametrically opposite to-the overlapped ends, teeth on the 20 edge of the strip, and a handle disposed through the single perforation andthrough the perforations of the overlapped ends and secured to said latter ends. In testimony whereof I affix my signa- 2 ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

V SAMUEL J. HALL. Witnesses:

MIKE WISE, W. R YQ NG. 

